Arab Modern

Despite growing calls for global architectural histories, the historiography of modern architecture remains depicted by Western figures, narratives, and experiences. This book takes a different approach by uncovering previously overlooked histories and contributions that shaped the Arab world's modern built environment. Contributions consider projects from North Africa, the Levant, and the Arabian Gulf during a critical moment in history when several Arab countries were on the cusp of gaining their independence from colonial rule and were entering a new phase of postcolonial nation-building. The travel of ideas and figures from within and outside the architectural profession - including craftspeople, bureaucrats, and residents - demonstrates the multifaceted international and regional exchanges underpinning architectural creations and imaginaries in the wake of independence.